Bellator Fighting Championships lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez (19-2 MMA, 3-0 BFC) returns to action for the first time since an October win under the DREAM banner when he meets 10-time UFC veteran Josh Neer (27-9-1 MMA, 0-0 BFC) in May.Bellator officials announced the new matchup today, though specifics on the date of the bout have to be released.

Somebody give the matchmaker a bonus. I think the extra five pounds will favor Neer but probably not significantly.

xdanish020 »
Posted 9/22/08 2:18:00AM

Super Fight? rly?

isk »
Posted 12/5/07 12:38:00PM

My first thought about this fight is that Alvarez will overpower Neer on the feet and control him with GnP for a unanimous decision win. Alvarez has lately lost only to one of the top grapplers in MMA (with a rule about ring attire that favors Aoki, no less), and I don't think Neer is at that level of BJJ. Alvarez is just too strong, and as good as Bellator is at the moment I don't see anyone in their LW division taking the belt from him.

That said, this fight is a unique opportunity for Neer to show he's a better fighter, a changed fighter from the Tibau fight. Does he still think nonexistant takedown defense is okay given his toughness and skill from the guard, or has he accepted MMA judging for what it is and realized he needs to control the fight to win? He reminds me a lot of the old Nick Diaz who came into fights with a lot of skill and not much strategy, and both have lost fights they shouldn't have. You see Nick now and - beyond cross-promotional politics - some think he's not an illogical matchup vs GSP or any of the top welterweights in the world.

It's Alvarez's fight to lose, but in a small way it's Neer's career to lose. He's still a young fighter with plenty of time to adapt and improve, but he may not get another chance to capitalize on his potential like this.

jae_1833 »
Posted 7/19/07 11:27:00AM

Good points......and no I don't think Josh has learned a thing....he's been fighting the same way for 7 years now and I think he is just stuck in his ways.

prozacnation1978 »
Posted 7/5/07 11:42:00PM

nice fight gotta be cheering for neer

BustedKnuckle »
Posted 9/2/09 5:48:00PM

Very nice!! I am leaning toward a GnP UD for Alverez. It could go to Neer as well. He could hit a home run standing or catch Eddie in a sub? Either way this is going to be a barnburner!

jiujitsufreak74 »
Posted 9/24/07 7:28:00PM

i'm really pumped for this. Neer always brings it and Eddie is still on a rise imo. really interested to see exactly how this fight goes...we all like to think a fight will go a certain way but you never know what will happen come fight night

higdon10 »
Posted 7/6/07 2:00:00PM

Get 'em Neer!!!

CwB »
Posted 2/27/07 2:05:00PM

Nice to see someone fresh out of the UFC fight a Top Non-UFC Lightwieght...

Alvarez for the win, but Neer always puts up a great and entertaining fight. Hell yeah.